Baltimore City School Board Considers School Modernization Proposal

In the 2013 legislative session, the General Assembly passed HB860 allocating $20 million in annual State lottery proceeds, $20 million in annual Baltimore City Public Schools revenues and $20 million in annual Baltimore City revenues to support a multiyear, $1.1 billion public school construction and renovation initiative in Baltimore City. As reported in the Baltimore Sun, the City is now considering how to best use the funding to modernize its school facilities. As described by the Sun, this past Tuesday,

School administrators showed the school board a consolidation plan that would relocate several small schools and adjust the grade spans at others. . .

“Baltimore schools are growing, which is a great sign for our city,” [Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake] said in a statement. “My priority is to work in partnership to secure the resources necessary that can build the schools parents want to send their children to, which is why I fought so hard for school construction funds.”

According to the Sun, the school board is scheduled to vote December 17th on whether to adopt the plan.